WEBVTT ROB: BACK HERE, A FATHER-SONREUNION 54-YEARS IN THE MAKING.JULI COUNCIL BLUFFS RESIDENTBRUCE BROOKS LOST TRACK OF HISTWO SONS AFTER HE AND THEIRMOTHER SEPARATED IN 1963.HIM BUT THEIR SEARCH TO FIND ONEANOTHER ENDED TODAY. ROB: KETV NEWSWATCH 7'S TAYLORBARTH HAS THIS NEW STORY.>> EXCITED AND NERVOUS.I CAN'T HARDLY STAND HERE.MY KNEES ARE SHAKING.REPORTER: BRUCE BROOKS HASWAITED MORE THAN 5 DECADES FORTHIS DAY. >> I'D GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHEREI WAS JUST ABOUT TO GIVE UP.REPORTER: SINCE 1963 HE'S BEENSEARCHING AND HOPING. >> NOW I HAVE A PURPOSE FORBEING HERE.REPORTER: BRUCE FOUND THATPURPOSE ON FACEBOOK JUST AFTERTHANKSGIVING LAST YEAR. HIS SON, TONY, LOCATED ALL THEWAY IN PORTLAND, OREGON. >> SHOULD BE ANYTIME.REPORTER: MINUTES FELT LIKEHOURS AT EPPLEY AIRFIELDTHURSDAYHUNDREDS OF FACES PASSINGTHROUGH THE TERMINAL. BRUCE'S EYES ONLY LOCKING IN ONONE. >> THERE HE IS>> HI, POPS.REPORTER: STRANGERS FOR HALF ACENTURY. YET, AN INSTANT BOND>> HREPORTER: TONY PEOPLES HAS ALSOBEEN LOOKING FOR HIS DAD FOR 25YEARS.A SEARCH THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLENOW ENDING WITH INFINIPOSSIBILITIES.>> GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE HAVEN'THAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANDNOW WE DREPORTER: TONY PLANS TO SPENDTWO WEEKS IN COUNCIL BLUFFS WITHHIS DAD AND THEY HAVE A LOTPLANNED AS THEY GET TO KNOW EACHOTHER, INCLUDING A SPECIAL COOKOUT AND A TRIP TO KANSAS TO SE

Father, son share emotional reunion after 54 years

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Updated: 9:45 AM EDT Apr 21, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. —

An Iowa man lost track of his two sons after he and their mother separated in 1963. His search to find his son, Tony Peoples, ended Thursday at Eppley Airfield, leading to a father-son reunion 54 years in the making.

Brooks had little hope this day would come, after searching for more than five decades.

"I'd gotten to the point where I was just about to give up," Brooks said. "Now I have a purpose for being here."

Brooks found that purpose on Facebook just after Thanksgiving in 2016. His daughter, who he didn't know he had, found him in Council Bluffs. She then helped him connect with his sons, Peoples living all the way in Portland, Oregon.

Minutes felt like hours at Eppley Airfield Thursday, as Brooks waited for Peoples to land. Hundreds of faces passing through the terminal, but Brooks' eyes only locking in on one.

The reunion brought tears to both their eyes, although strangers for a half-century, they seemed to have an instant bond.

Peoples had also been looking for his dad for 25 years. A search that seemed impossible, now ending with infinite possibilities.

"A lot of closure, I guess," Peoples said after meeting his father. "It's great. I've been waiting for this for a long time."

The two now focusing on getting to know each other.

"It's just something we haven't had the opportunity to do and now we do," Brooks said.

Peoples plans to spend two weeks in Council Bluffs with his dad.

Brooks has also connected with his other son, Rick, but has yet to meet him face-to-face.